Effects of genistein and synergistic action in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid on the growth of breast cancer cell lines

Abstract

Genistein, a prominent isoflavone in soy products, produced dose- and time-dependent in vitro growth inhibition at high concentrations (at least 185 microM) with an IC50 of 7.0-274.2 microM after 72 h incubation in four breast cancer cell lines (DD-762, Sm-MT, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and one breast epithelial cell line (HBL- 100) of human and animal origin; it stimulated estrogen-receptor-positive MCF-7 cells at low concentrations (3.7 nM-37 microM). Genistein-exposed cells underwent apoptosis, confirmed by G2/M arrest followed by the appearance of a sub-G1 fraction in cell-cycle progression, and by a characteristic cell ultrastructure. The apoptosis cascade was due to up-regulation of Bax protein, down-regulation of Bcl-XL protein, and activation of caspase-3. Genistein acted in synergism with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fish oil component, on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells (genistein > 93.2 microM and EPA > 210.9 microM) and on MDA-MB-231 cells (genistein > 176.1 microM and EPA > 609.3 microM). Dietary intake of genistein in combination with EPA may be beneficial for breast cancer control.

Flaxseed attenuates the tumor growth stimulating effect of soy protein in ovariectomized athymic mice with MCF‐7 human breast cancer xenografts

“…In mammary cancer cell cultures, the combination of genistein with n-3 fatty acids better reduced the cell growth than either alone. 17 Accordingly, the tumor growth inhibiting properties of FS in the present study may in part be due to its oil component. FS oil is a very rich source of a-linolenic acid (ALA, n-3 fatty acid), usually accounting over 50% of the total fatty acids.…”

“…Combining the use of soy with FS may have anticancer effect as combining isoflavones with n-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the growth of human breast cancer cells. 17 Because the intake of isoflavone-rich soy and lignan-rich FS is increasing particularly among postmenopausal women, it is of interest to determine their putative interactive effects on breast cancer growth. In our study, the long term effect of SP and FS alone and in combination were determined on the established estrogen responsive human breast cancer MCF-7 xenografts in ovariectomized athymic nude mice.…”

Evaluation of a lipopeptide biosurfactant from Bacillus natto TK-1 as a potential source of anti-adhesive, antimicrobial and antitumor activities

“…Cell viability was determined by a colorimetric 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (31). Briefly, exponentially growing cells ( 1×10 5 /ml ) were added to each well of 96-well tissue culture plate with a total volume of 100 µl per well.…”

Soybean Flour Improves Fatty Acid Profile and Decreases Hepatic Triglyceride Deposition in Rats Fed with Normocaloric and Hypercaloric Diet

“…In addition, respect to polyunsaturated fatty acids a lower omega-6:omega-3 ratio was observed in the soy diet groups compared to the casein groups; thus, exerting a positive effect in preventing many diseases, including: cardiovascular disease, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases [38]. On the other hand, the flavonoids present in soy flour act synergistically with omega-3 fatty acids exert an anti inflammatory effect [39] [40].…”